Highest 1101 Bangladeshis detained in Malaysian crackdown

PETALING JAYA: The Immigration Department has rounded up 2,832 foreigners so far following the start of the nationwide crackdown that began on July 1.

Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said as at 10.30am Sunday, enforcement officers had inspected 458 premises around the country and screened 8,731 people, according to a report by www.thestar.com.my.

"So far, we have detained a total of 2,832 foreigners, including 509 women and 14 children," he said Sunday.

He said that of those rounded up, the majority were from Bangladesh at 1,101, followed by Indonesia (658), Myanmar (223), Thailand (98), the Philippines (95) and Vietnam (94), while the rest were from other countries.

Mustafar said that 56 employers were also detained for hiring and harbouring illegals.

In Kota Kinabalu, a month-old infant was among 34 undocumented immigrants who were detained after authorities here including city police raided eight locations suspected to be criminal hideouts and drug dens.

Kota Kinabalu police chief Asst Comm M Chandra said the infant was among 21 children who were held during the eight-hour operation from 1am on Friday.

He said the others were adults and all are believed to be Filipino nationals.

Chandra said the raids were carried out in Telipok and Inanam at the city’s outskirts and at Luyang near downtown Kota Kinabalu as well.

He said during the operations, Sabah Electrcity Sdn Bhd personnel disconnected illegal power connections.

Editor : A.H.M Moazzem Hossain

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